Although this foam isn’t one of Nike’s premium materials, e.g. React or ZoomX, it did a great job of cushioning the foot strike over short and long runs. The finish was detailed and sleek, yet minimalist, but by far the most stand out thing for me was how breathable and lightweight they felt. Key specs – Terrain: Trail; Arch support: Neutral; Best Used for: Training; Weight: 321g; Heel-to-toe offset: 9.5mm The other thing I don’t like about Nike’s lower-budget shoes is they cram the heel with foam for a high-drop experience. The Downshifter 11 has a 11.6mm drop which is just too much. Their other budget shoe, the Quest 4 has an amazing 13.7mm drop in our tests… Nike, even beginners don’t need this much heel! Surprisingly nice weight on the Downshifter 11

This version of the Downshifter is the 10th iteration of the entry level, cushioned running shoe from Nike. Costs are kept down with a minimalist design and low cost materials on the upper, and unnamed foam in the sole. Consider sizing half or whole size up, or avoiding altogether if you have a wide foot (the same size shoe in the Nike React Miler has a much wider toe box).As soon as I put the Downshifter 10s on, they were comfortable with no tight spots. The thin, lightweight upper wrapped around the foot with a barely-there feel. If you’re a neutral runner looking for a cushioned running shoe, and you don’t require tons of support when running, this is the shoe for you!

When I first tried on the Downshifter 11, the fit is quite snug for a Nike, coming in a little shorter and narrower than other Nike running shoes, so you may want to consider going half a size up, or if they’re your first pair of running shoes, at least a whole size up from your regular shoe. If the shoe feels even slightly tight on first wear, size up here. What’s more, considering that this is a budget model, it’s great that they decided to make it more environmentally friendly.The medial and lateral swoosh design follows the path of the sole wrap and the heel features tape with the ‘Nike Running’ branding, matching that of the clothing range (a nice detail, if like me you like to match your workout outfit!), totalling 14 swoosh’s per pair! Nike Downshifter 10 Conclusion